Week 1 - Cancer Flashcards
What are the 5 distinguishing features of cancer cells?
- Cancer cell’s independence from normal cellular controls
- Anchorage independent
- Immortal
- Sustain angiogenesis
- Anaplasia or Pleomorphic
What is angiogenesis?
It develops new blood cells from pre-existing cells
What are Tumor Markers?
They are substances produced by cancer cells or that are found on plasma cell membranes in the blood, CSF or urine
What is a Proto-oncogene?
A normal gene that codes for cellular growth
What is an Oncogene?
Mutant genes that accelerate protein synthesis and cellular growth
What are Tumor suppressor genes?
They encode proteins that in their normal state negatively regulate proliferation
What are Tumor markers used to:
- screen and identify individuals at high risk for cancer
- diagnose specific types of tutors
- observe clinical course of cancer
What are environmental risk factors of cancer?
- Tobacco
- Alcohol consumption
- Ionising radiation
- Ultraviolet radiation
- Sexual reproductive behaviour
- Occupational Hazards
- Electromagnetic fields
- Diet
- Obesity
What are the 4 stages of Cancer?
Stage 1: Cancer is confined to its organ of origin (in situ)
Stage 2: Locally invasive
Stage 3: Regional structures
Stage 4: Distant sites
Alkylating Agents?
- One of the 1st chemotherapy’s used
* stop cells from dividing
Anti metabolic Drugs?
- Resemble natural metabolites (folic acid, purine, pyrimidine)
Antibiotic Antitumor drugs
- Come from an organic source
* One organism (usually a fungi) acts against another organism (a neoplastic cell)
Mitotic inhibitors
- Natural products isolated from plants
* Inhibit mitosis - stabilise protein
Ionizing radiation
eradicate cancer without excessive toxicity
Avoid damage to normal structures
Side effects of cancer treatment
- Gastrointestinal Tract
- Bone Marrow
- Hair & Skin
- Reproductive Tract
